Tags
1 Corinthians 15:57-58, 2 Timothy 1:12-13, Faithful Is He, Genesis 6:3, God's Faithfulness, He Is Able, I know Whom I have Believed, Isaiah 43:2-3, Isaiah 55:6-11, James 4:6-8, Job 13:15, Philippians 1:6, Psalm 121:1-8, We win
Bible Ballistics: Vol. 13 No.08. Because He IS Able???
I started this article on a different vein but felt that I needed to share something that is on my heart. There are times when we just “feel” discouraged, defeated, confused, or distraught over things that are out of our control. There are the times that we must rise above our “feelings” and stand on what we know! And what we know has to be grounded in God and His Word!
“For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless
I am not ashamed:
for I know
whom I have believed,
and am persuaded
that he is able
to keep that
which I have committed
unto him
against that day.
13 Hold fast the form of sound words,
which thou hast heard of me,
in faith
and love
which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 1:12-13
Paul told his son-in-the-ministry, Timothy, that his confidence was in Jesus—regardless of his personal suffering for the Gospel or his circumstances; and we can learn a lot from this truth! I love the old hymn that reiterates this truth as well—because I do “know whom I have believed” and that’s why and how we can “press on”!
Job understood this principle in the midst of the tragedies that overtook him. He understood it and proclaimed it to his misguided, if well-meaning, friends who insisted that he must have sinned, or these things wouldn’t have happened to him. While this seems to have been the first of the “prosperity” teaching, Job knew that his relationship with God was sure; even though he came to understand with even more confidence that God has plans that are far beyond what we can comprehend—HE IS God, not us!
“Seek ye the LORD
while he may be found,
call ye upon him
while he is near:
7 Let the wicked
forsake his way,
and the unrighteous man
his thoughts:
and let him return
unto the LORD,
and he will have mercy upon him;
and to our God,
for he will abundantly pardon.
8 For my thoughts
are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways
my ways,
saith the LORD.
9 For as the heavens
are higher than the earth,
so are my ways
higher than your ways,
and my thoughts
than your thoughts.
10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow
from heaven,
and returneth not thither,
but watereth the earth,
and maketh it bring forth and bud,
that it may give seed
to the sower,
and bread
to the eater:
11 So shall my word be
that goeth forth
out of my mouth:
it shall not return unto me void,
but it shall accomplish
that which I please,
and it shall prosper
in the thing whereto
I sent it.” Isaiah 55:6-11
As Job so succinctly declared:
“Though he slay me,
yet will I trust in him:
but I will
maintain mine own ways
before him.” Job 13:15
Job knew that his confidence was in God Almighty, yet he also knew that his responsibility was to live with integrity before the God to whom he would answer. His answer didn’t have to impress his friends, for he would answer to his God! And so will we—every man, woman, boy and girl, will give an account to the God who created us, and has offered us the salvation that Jesus bought at Calvary! James talked about our need to draw near to Him when we have the opportunity; for that opportunity will not always be available.
“And the LORD said,
My spirit shall not always strive
with man,” Genesis 6:3a
“Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain,
The spirit that dwelleth in us
lusteth to envy?
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith,
God resisteth the proud,
but giveth grace unto the humble.
7 Submit yourselves therefore
to God.
Resist the devil,
and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God,
and he will draw nigh to you.
Cleanse your hands,
ye sinners;
and purify your hearts,
ye double minded.” James 4:6-8
God loves us and has given us His Son, Jesus, who paid for our sin, if we will but come to God through Him (See John 14:6). And God is ever at work growing us into the image of Jesus (See Romans 8:28-29). He hasn’t gone to sleep, or forgotten where you are, nor has He taken time off—but He is ever working in our hearts and lives through every circumstance! And I trust Him! He has ever proven Himself faithful, especially in those times when I simply had to cling to what I know to be true, and march through my house repeating to myself, “I’m not giving up! I’m not giving up! I’m not giving up!” For just like Paul, I cling to the fact (not the fairytale) that God is God, and I belong to Him!
“Being confident
of this very thing,
that he which hath begun a good work
in you
will perform it
until the day of Jesus Christ:” Philippians 1:6
He has me/you in His hand—we who have come to Jesus in repentance and faith in HIS substitutionary (in my place), atoning (Paying the debt I owed), sacrifice for sin (because I owed a debt I could never pay!)! God is ever at work on our behalf! Always!
“When thou passest through the waters,
I will be with thee;
and through the rivers,
they shall not overflow thee:
when thou walkest through the fire,
thou shalt not be burned;
neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
3 For I am the LORD thy God,” Isaiah 43:2-3a
You can trust in HIS care! I know that some of you are walking through the fire today; yet God Almighty has never lost sight of where you are! He has you in His hand. Just look up, walk forward and press on with Jesus!
“But thanks be to God,
which giveth us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren,
be ye stedfast,
unmoveable,
always abounding
in the work of the Lord,
forasmuch as ye know
that your labour
is not in vain
in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:57-58
In other words—We Win!!! So, tie a knot in that rope you’re holding onto, look up to the One who has the other end of that rope, and walk forward in confidence in HIM—not your feelings, or your circumstances!
And I’d simply like to close today with one of my favorite Psalms!
“I will lift up mine eyes
unto the hills,
from whence cometh my help.
2 My help cometh
from the LORD,
which made heaven
and earth.
3 He will not suffer thy foot
to be moved:
he that keepeth thee
will not slumber.
4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel
shall neither slumber
nor sleep.
5 The LORD is thy keeper:
the LORD is thy shade
upon thy right hand.
6 The sun shall not smite thee
by day,
nor the moon
by night.
7 The LORD shall preserve thee
from all evil:
he shall preserve
thy soul.
8 The LORD shall preserve
thy going out
and thy coming in
from this time forth,
and even for evermore.” Psalm 121:1-8
God’s got this—remember that you/I can “know whom I have believed” because we are “persuaded that he is able”, for HE IS always able! Look up at The Lord—not around at the ‘lions’ nipping at your heels!
Amen and Amen!!!